Jamaica has lost a giant in Mr Howard Aris

Saturday, November 12, 2011

LIKE the sporting fraternity in Jamaica and the wider world, this newspaper is burdened with a sense of loss at the passing of sports administrator Mr Howard Aris.

We do not believe it is an accident that since he took over as president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (now the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association, JAAA) in 2004, the nation has enjoyed its richest vein in terms of track and field success at major games.

As former prime minister Mr Edward Seaga said yesterday "The track and field fraternity has lost a man who cared for the sport and who was very much involved in making sure Jamaica was always at the forefront of the business of track and field..."

Sports administrators are unfortunately often prone to an unsatisfactory, even hostile, relationship with those at the centre of their sport — those who compete on the track, on the field, etc.

Mr Aris, a suave man with impeccable manners, was the exact opposite.

He was, if anything, an 'athlete's administrator'. The stories are numerous of athletes who received direct help in material and moral support when Mr Aris discerned need. The responses of athletes on the social networks yesterday following news of his passing tell the story.

Those who knew him best speak of a man who was firm yet flexible. He was always willing to listen to other points of view, to be inclusive and to reconcile.

On those occasions when the JAAA found itself at odds with other associations and/or individuals within and without the track and field fraternity, Mr Aris remained accessible — able to provide an atmosphere for the easing of distrust and tension.

Over decades as a sports administrator, Mr Aris was probably closest to People's National Party leaders including the late former prime minister Mr Michael Manley and the former prime minister and current Opposition Leader Mrs Portia Simpson Miller.

But it is to the eternal credit of Mr Aris's personality that others across the political divide, including Mr Seaga and current Sports Minister Ms Olivia Grange, depended on him for guidance and advice.

It seems reasonable to suspect that the loss of Mr Aris will have a short-term adverse effect on the management of Jamaica's track and field.

We would suggest that the JAAA will have done justice and honour to the memory of Mr Aris should it find it possible to smoothly and speedily transition to a new leader, blessed with the vision and personality to carry on the work of a giant now gone.

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Jamaica has lost a giant in Mr Howard Aris